The Enemies of God

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night. For all the ill that Satan can do, when God describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love, it is a piece of land, a yoke of oxen, and a wife (Luke 14:18-20). The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable.”

– John Piper, A Hunger for God

When I read this passage from the intro of John Piper’s book, I stopped dead in my tracks. It is the most powerful explanation of the world’s perspective that I’ve ever read. And it was the moment I knew this book would not only be difficult to read, but it would change something deep inside me.

With a baby on the way, it was interesting that God highlighted a book about fasting for me to read in this season. The last thing I can do right now is give up a meal…but I think that was the point. Had I been able to fast, I might have only seen this book as an outline for the merits of fasting; but since I couldn’t fast, I was able to see so much deeper than just the act of fasting and the benefits.

Don’t worry, this post isn’t about fasting and I’m not going to ask you to give up a meal. I’m going to do much more than that…

And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. – Luke 8:14

They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. – Mark 4:18b-19

These scriptures are Jesus explaining the parable of the sower (or soils in some Bibles) to his disciples. (You can read that parable in Luke 8:4-8/Mark 4:3-9, and the full explanation in Luke 8:9-15/Mark 4:10-20.) It’s one of many cautions to Christians about the pleasures of this world.

What I think we miss a lot in these scripture, and what John Piper is pointing out in his book, is what constitutes the pleasures of this world…it’s not the things that are obvious sins. It’s the gifts that God has given us to enjoy – we just choose to enjoy them in a way that makes them a substitute for God.

“Anything can stand in the way of true discipleship – not just evil, and not just food but anything. Nor should it be surprising that the greatest competitors for our devotion and affection for God would be some of his most precious gifts.” – John Piper, A Hunger for God

With my inability to fast, I had to look long and hard at what might be in my life that could be distracting me from God. Trust me, I didn’t have to go far. Here is my shortlist of things to watch out for:

• Work

• Sleep

• Husband

• Children

• Ministry

• Social Media

I think many of us can agree that social media is from the devil (I’m only half joking…), but the rest of the things on that list aren’t necessarily “bad” in their own right – and many of them can quickly classify as “good” or even godly! The question I have to ask myself is, are any of these things taking time that I should be devoting to God, or are these things sustaining the hunger I have to know God more?

I’m not saying you should ignore your children and their needs/activities because you could be spending time in prayer. I’m not saying your ministry or your husband isn’t important. What I am saying is that you should be mindful of where your heart is with these things and what you use as an excuse to override your connection with God.

And let me be doubly clear: I’m not judging you, because I struggle with this myself. I’m well-known to let work creep in before my quiet time and before you know it an entire day is gone and I never cracked open my bible. I can guarantee you that the season of life that is about to come is going to create a struggle to meet God in the quiet – and I’m preparing myself to remember that God meets us where we are, in the season he has us. My quiet time may look different with a newborn, but my job is just to make sure that I am connecting with God daily.

We want to be cautious of the perversion of the gifts God has given us to enjoy in this life. These things can consume our thoughts to the point that sometimes even when we KNOW God, we choose to ignore him in favor of his gifts. We can put God (and sometimes his commandments) on the shelf because life is good, so I must be blessed by God which means he condones my actions. Or sometimes, I feel justified by the world to want these things (especially in abundance), and I don’t even see where I’m violating God’s word in my actions…and because you’ve put your relationship with God on the shelf, you’re not hearing from him and his word where you might be misguided in that moment.

What is getting in the way of your relationship with God?

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Is it old patterns and behaviors?

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

Is it the pursuit of worldly pleasures?

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. – 1 John 2:15-17

Why not try something new?

Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!” – Psalm 35:27